Those who think being named head wonk is more curse blessing have clearly never partied with the Senate Republican Policy Committee.

"This committee really is the most fun," former RPC chairwoman and retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas assured guests at an intimate farewell shindig organized by current RPC Chairman John Barrasso of Wyoming.

(Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call)

Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, a former chairman, asserted there’s no finer place to plot strategery. "This is where all the innovation occurs in terms of political thought,” he boasted.

RPC honoree and retiring Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona regaled the crowd with tales of having to beat back colleagues who coveted the committee’s cavernous meeting space.

"I had to fend off [former Senate Majority Leader] Trent Lott the entire time we were here,” he quipped.